Victoria name Champions League squad

Victoria have named a squad heavy on fast bowlers and power hitters for next month's Champions Twenty20 League in India. Cameron White will captain a 15-man group at the inaugural event, where the Bushrangers will face domestic Twenty20 sides from India, Pakistan, South Africa and England.

Victoria will be seen as the team to beat thanks to their incredible Twenty20 record - they have been beaten only once in the format and have been the champions in all three seasons of Australia's domestic Twenty20 competition. Unlike Western Australia, who will enter the tournament without Michael Hussey due to his decision to play for his IPL side, Victoria did not have concerns over any of their stars failing to be available.

White, Brad Hodge and David Hussey were all part of the IPL this year but none of their sides qualified for the Champions Twenty20. Dirk Nannes, the left-arm fast bowler, helped both Victoria and Middlesex earn spots at the tournament but he will be playing for his home state rather than his county.

The squad features all but two of the players who helped the Bushrangers win last season's KFC Twenty20. Bryce McGain, the legspinner, was not considered due to his long-term shoulder injury and the batsman Michael Klinger is now a South Australia player.

Victoria have chosen two wicketkeepers, with Adam Crosthwaite the likely first choice due to his strong Twenty20 record, and Matthew Wade the backup. White is the only specialist spinner in the group - Hodge and Hussey will almost certainly be used as well - as the selectors went instead for five fast men and two fast-medium allrounders.

Six men have international experience, including the England Test bowler Darren Pattinson and Australia's newest Test fast man Peter Siddle. Greg Shipperd, the coach, knows about the Indian conditions having guided the Delhi Daredevils in the IPL and he said the squad would give the selectors plenty of options.

"We've got a really good squad with a lot of depth, so we can choose the best team for the conditions and our opponents," Shipperd said. "We've only lost one game in this format over that past three years so we're confident in our own abilities, but it will be a whole new game over there with many talented players and teams competing."

Victoria play in the tournament opener against Middlesex in Mumbai on December 3. They have also been drawn in the same pool group as the Titans from South Africa and the IPL runners-up the Chennai Super Kings. If they reach the semi-finals they could face the Rajasthan Royals, who are led by the Victoria legend Shane Warne.

Squad Rob Quiney, Aiden Blizzard, Brad Hodge, David Hussey, Cameron White (capt), Aaron Finch, Andrew McDonald, Adam Crosthwaite (wk), Matthew Wade (wk), John Hastings, Clint McKay, Shane Harwood, Peter Siddle, Darren Pattinson, Dirk Nannes.